Rim Shot

Style Essential: Big, Bold Frames

Last fall’s focus on Sarah Palin’s starkly modern, rimless glasses made us lose sight of our city’s own trend in eyewear: the return of old-school plastic frames. Whether vintage or inspired by retro design, the style has a gutsy panache that’s a perfect fit for our fearless fashion aesthetic.

“Plastic frames don’t recede on the face, like rimless or wire styles do, so they have the bold look that Portlanders like,” says John Cosgrove, owner of Decades Vintage Company, which gets its eyewear stock from optometrists who’ve closed their doors. Retailers like Visage Eyewear and Reynolds Optical Co also have the trend squarely in sight, offering fresh takes on classic styles for visionary men and women.